10M Engine Cover/hatch rebuild questions

[Bimmerbill]

Happy 4th all!
I am rebuilding my starboard engine hatch (balsa was rotted from the furniture mounting holes) and touching up some parts on the center engine hatch. It looks like there was some sort of gasket around the center engine hatch perimeter. I see some filled in holes from the PO. Is there supposed to be any gasket around any of the engine cover hatches? I have no gaskets on any of them.

A few corners are broken/chipped a bit. How do I repair those? Fiberglass with filler and grind to fit? Or marine Tex?

I hope the port side isn't as rotted, since removing the balsa was a PITA. Only some of it was brownish, but most was wet so I tore it all out. It was bonded pretty well still.

Thanks!

[BobCT]

Bill,

I did the same on my mid cabin last year. There aren't any gaskets on my model, I don't believe there are on the Express. I also have a few cracked corners and will use the 6-10 thickened epoxy in a caulk size tube. The stuff is great and so much easier than mixing individual batches.

Bob

[Bimmerbill]

Thanks Bob.
Rebuild is going pretty good I think. My first time using fiberglass and epoxy, but it looks good so far.
Do you think 24oz roven covered by one layer of 6 oz bi-axial is good for the bottom skin?
Was my first time trying something like this and I ended up cutting a hole, then making it bigger, bigger and bigger. Figured I'd just glass over the bottom instead of trying to piece it back together.

When I do the port hatch I may just quarter the bottom skin and reuse it.